"Hillary Mann Leverett, like so many other academics and so many other policymakers, is intent upon whitewashing the unfortunate and bloody history of Islamic anti-Semitism and the grim reality of Islamic jihad in general," said Spencer.

Spencer said that expressions of anti-Jewish bigotry in the Middle East today are as virulent as any heard in World War II-era Europe, and that while mainline Christian religions have repudiated anti-Semitism, Islam has not.